Fence-post



(No Model.)

J. O. BROOKBANK.

FENCE POST. No. 369,500. Patented Sept 6, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

JAMES O. BROOKBANK, OF DRIFTW OOD, PENNSYLVANIA.

FENCE-POST.

.QPRCIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,500, datedSeptember 6, 1887.

Application filed June 12, 1886. Serial No. 204.986,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Janus O. BROOKBANK, of Driftwood, in the county ofCameron and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements inMetallic Fences, of which the following is a specification.

The aim of my invention is to construct a fence consisting of wiresstrung upon metallic posts, which shall have greater strength anddurability than those now in general use.

Heretoforc fenceposts have been provided with radial blades of equalthickness throughout and beveled in each direction from a point near thelower end, but offering no material resistance to a force tending tocarry the post upward, or the blades have been joined about midway oftheir length by a flat horizontal plate in such manner that a hole mustfirst be dug before the" post can be inserted into the earth asufficient distance; also, posts constructed entirely of radial bladeshave been proposed, the bottom of the post being broad and flat andprovided with shoulders having fiat under sides and sloping upward to apoint; but such posts cannot be driven into the ground.

My invention is designed to overcome the objectionable features of suchconstructions; and to that end I construct the base of the post ofblades tapering in each direction from the middle portions and ofdecreasing thickness from the upper ends downward, by which means thebase of the post may be made to easily penetrate into the ground; butthe broad upper tapered portions of the blades will offer greatresistance to any upward movement after the post is set, the resistanceto the said upward movement of the post being increased by the shouldersat the lower ends of the blades having flat top surfaces, and eachtapering downward to a point, so as to afford the, least resistance tothe entrance of the post into the ground.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents aperspective view ofmy improved post with a wire attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a verticalcross'section of the same on the line :0 Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectionon the line y y. Fig. dis a perspective view of one of thewire-fastening devices.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the (No model.)

thus presenting their upper edges in an inclined position to receive theweight and pressure of the overlying earth, whereby the heaving orlifting of the post is prevented. The blades 1) also decrease inthickness from their upper to their lower ends, thus presenting a broadtop surface, thereby offering great resistance to any upward thrust,while their lower beveled parts, being comparatively thin and decreasingin thickness as the point is appreached, offer very little resistance tothe entrance of the base into the earth, and being thin, as stated, butlittle surface is presented to any upward thrust that may bebronghtagainst the base; also, it is evident that the blades are madethickest where the greatest strength is needed. At its lower end thebase is formed with shoulders or lugs c in the angles between theblades. The upper surfaces of these shoulders are horizontal, orthcrcabout, and are intended to receive the weight of the earth andoffer an additional resistance to the lifting of the post, while theirlower or outer surfaces are tapered downward to the point of the post,so that they do not prevent the post from being driven into the ground.The base may be secured within the post by means of a transverse pin,cl,'or any other means which will secure a rigid connection of theparts.

It is to be noted as an important feature of my construction that-,whileit permits the base to be driven to its place and thus avoids the laborof forming post-holes, the base presents a surface on which thesuperincumbent earth will act insuch manner as to keep the post downfirmly in its place.

In wire fences as ordinarily constructed the wires are left free to playendwise across the posts, the result of which is that the entire strainof the wires is transmitted to the posts at the ends of the fence. Bypractical experience I have found that the fence may be given greaterstrength and rigidity by securing the wires rigidly to each and everypost, thus distributing the strain and causing the wires to assist inholding the posts in proper position. For the purpose of thus confiningthe wires to the posts I employ the devices shownin the drawings,consisting of a plate or clip, 0, and a fasteningb'olt, D. The plate 0is perforated to receive a bolt, and is made of a curved or convex format its lower end in order that it may embrace the post and be preventedfrom turning around the bolt. At its upper end the plate is providedwith a finger, preferably slightly curved, as shown, and which isadapted to bear against the outer side of the wire or other fencingmaterial and hold the same against the face of the post, the objectbeing to subject the wire to a strong pressure between the post andplate, so that its movement in an endwise direction is prevented.

The fastening-bolt may be secured in the post, asshown in Fig. 2, or itmay be extended entirely through the post, perforated at its rear end,and secured by a tapering key, E. The use of the key is recommended, forthe reason that the parts may be instantly and quickly tightened by asingle blow of a hammer, thus enabling the fenceto be constructed morerapidly and with less labor than when a screw-bolt is used.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A base for fence-posts, having radial e'asoo blades tapering in both directions fromapoint midway of their length, and provided at its lower end withshoulders situated between the blades and provided with horizontal topsurfaces and tapering therefrom downward to a point, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

2. A base for fence-posts, having a series of radial vertical bladestapering in both directions from their middle and decreasing inthickness from their upper end downward, and shoulders at the lower endof the base having horizontal top surfaces and tapering downward to apoint, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, with a post, of a perforated clip-plate bent toconform to the shape of the post and provided with a projecting fingerbent to grasp a fence-wire, and means, substantially as described, forsecuring said plate to the post.

4. The combination, with the post, of the perforated clip-plate bent toconform to the shape of the post and having a projecting finger bent toadapt it to grasp the wire, and means for securing said plate to thepost, consisting of a slotted bolt adapted to extend through the plateand provided with a key to pass into said slot, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I-hereunto set my hand, this 24th day of April,1886,in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

JAMES O. BROOKBANK.

WVitnesses:

HOWARD SINN, JAMES B. SINN.

